Tag Archives: fab lab
Fab Lab of the Week: – Fab Lab Portland at U of Oregon
This week’s featured Fab Lab is the Fab Lab Portland at the University of Oregon.
From the fab lab’s website:
The primary function of the lab is to support students and faculty members conducting research in Portland. Access is offered to patrons that are actively enrolled or teaching in the current term. The culture of the lab supports an open atmosphere of learning. Patrons are responsible for safely operating all equipment and tools themselves, and must first complete a basic safety orientation and sign a release waiver before working in the woodshop or spary booth. Patrons may also use equipment in the fabrication lab if they have received technical training and been approved to operate the machines. Workshops and courses are offered each term to provide patrons with opportunities to improve their protoyping skills and fabrication techniques.
Fab Lab Portland has 3D printers and other equipment for use.
The facility supports two laser cutters, a 3D printer, a CNC milling machine, and a CNC router. Prices and specifications for equipment are as follows:
Laser Cutters: | Universal ILS 9.150D 100 watts 36”x24” $0.50/min |
Universal VLS 4.60 50 watts 24”x18” $0.30/min |
3D Printer: | Dimension 1200ES SST ABS plastic (natural) 10”x10”x12” max dimensions $8/cu.in. |
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CNC Milling Machine: | Roland MDX-540 14”x14”x5” (9”x6”d.) travel dimensions *cost varies with material |
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CNC Router: | ShopBot BT48 48”x96”x5” travel dimensions *cost varies with material |
Fab Lab of the Week: MidSouth Makers Opens 3D Printing Workshop
This week’s featured Fab Lab is MidSouth Makers in Memphis, Tennessee.
Here is the mission of MidSouth Makers from their website:
Midsouth Makers aims to sustain the first ever hackerspace within the greater Memphis area. The goal of this hackerspace is bring in builders, tinkers, artists, makers, and doers together under one roof to form a makerspace. By bringing together these people a common place can be established to meet and discuss ideas, explore various technical endeavors, and communicate these thoughts with individuals from various backgrounds. Ultimately we seek to further our knowledge as individuals and as a group by learning what we can from each other.
MidSouth Makers was written up in local publication The Commercial Appeal:
Several members of MidSouth Makers have been building their own 3D printers in the last year. Typically, 3D printing technology, which has been around about 10 years, has been the toy of large-scale manufacturers, whose equipment costs in the tens of thousands. MidSouth Makers’ President Daniel Hess said there’s really no reason the little guy can’t get in on the action.
Hess spent about $800 on parts for his printer and bought $100 worth of plastic. However, the printer may use as little as 50 cents’ worth of plastic on each project.
Most of the printers in MidSouth Makers like it because it’s fun and they can raise some funds for their group by doing 3D Printing Build-Off events in other cities.
The group of 33 members was founded in January 2010. Members pay monthly dues to have 24/7 access to a 1,500-square-foot shop, all of the tools inside it, and the know-how of other members.
Many, like Hess, used to get in trouble with their spouses for tearing apart equipment in their living rooms. Some makers have more entrepreneurial hopes.
Fab Lab of the Week: Fab Lab Adelaide in South Australia
This week’s featured Fab Lab is Fab Lab Adelaide in South Australia.
Fab Lab Adelaide is managed by ANAT (Australian Network for Art and Technology). ANAT supports artists and creative practitioners engaging with science and technology.
Fab Lab Adelaide is funded by the South Australian Government’s Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology.
Equipped with both MakerBot and UP! 3D printers, the Fab Lab will launch in October 2012. In the meantime, follow them on Twitter @FabLabAdl.
We are looking forward to seeing more.
Read about all of our featured Fab Labs in our weekly series.
South Australia photo by S.H. Photography used under Creative Commons license.
Neil Gershenfeld Speaks With RadioNZ (New Zealand), Talks 3D Printing
Father of the Fab Lab movement and MIT Professor Neil Gershenfeld speaks with RadioNZ about the current status of personal fabrication.
“It’s all a big accident,” Professor Gershenfeld starts out.
He goes on to say that we’re building micro-LEGOs to fabricate objects digitally. Listen to the full interview below.
Neil Gershenfeld photo by etech used under Creative Commons license.
Read more articles about Neil Gershenfeld.
Top 3D Printing Headlines Last Week: Kids, Stocks, Suitcases, Fab Labs
A roundup of the top news On 3D Printing brought you from August 6 to August 12.
Monday, August 6
Tuesday, August 7
- 3D Printing On the Go: Portable 3D Printer PopFab Fits in a Suitcase
- Finally, an iPhone Case That Does Something Useful (Opens Beers)
Thursday, August 9
Friday, August 10
- Open-Source 3D Printer Pwdr Takes on MakerBot, Offers New Materials
- Setting Up and Running a Fab Lab: Primer, History, and Recommendations
Saturday, August 11
Sunday, August 12